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Recipe: Overnight oats
Overnight oats are a very popular breakfast because it cuts down on prep time. They are made by soaking oats in a liquid (usually milk) overnight. Overnight oats are superior to traditional porridge because: More than a recipe, this is a template you can follow to make overnight oats based on ratios. I like using milk and yoghurt as the wet ingredients and a ratio of 1:1:1 oats to milk to yoghurt. The recipe calls for 1/3-1/2 cup of each. If you are a smaller individual or have a smaller appetite, go with 1/3 cup. Ingredient recommendations About the toppings My personal preferences I normally make my overnight oats with…
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How to eat enough fibre
Most people agree that dietary fibre is important for health but not everyone knows how to eat enough fibre. Dietary fibre is present in different amounts in plant-based foods, including grains and cereals, legumes, vegetables, fruit, nuts and seeds. Individual foods have typically more than one type of fibre. Certain types of fibre have been identified as being beneficial for particular health conditions. Therefore, it makes sense to aim at consuming a wide variety of fibre-containing foods to consume a wide variety of dietary fibre types, which will in turn protect against a wide variety of health issues. Fibre requirements The Australian guidelines specify a target daily intake of 25g…
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How to eat 30 plants a week
Eating a variety of foods, in particular plant foods, is essential for gut health. This is because plants contain prebiotic fibre, polyphenols and other components that can improve the health of our gut via their effects on our gut microbes. Why 30 plants a week? This is the number that has been assigned as a ballpark target by gut health experts to ensure enough variety. Much as 8 glasses of water per day or 10K steps per day, there is nothing magical about the number 30, other than bringing you close to the optimal consumption of beneficial plant components. The concept of eating 30 plant a week is not only…
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An introduction to resistant starch
Resistant starch is one of the most recently "discovered" types of dietary fibre. It continues gaining scientific attention due to the fact that certain species of gut bacteria feed on resistant starch to produce short-chain fatty acids, which are beneficial to health.
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Product review: Obela Plant Based Hommus Bowls
Obela Plant Based Hommus Bowls are a portable, convenient meal to have on the go. They are vegan, gluten-free, high in fibre and protein. Obela Plant Based Hommus Bowls These bowls are new in the line of hommus and dips of the famous manufacturer Obela, makers of the convenient snack Obela Hommus To Go. In my opinion, this is a great way to get switch people’s perception about hommus from just a dip to what it is in the Middle East: a meal. Obela Plant Based Hommus Bowls come in the following flavours: Quinoa Tabouli Salad With Falafels & Lemon Garlic Dressing Roasted Mediterranean Vegetables With Falafels & Basil Pesto…
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How to fix constipation
Constipation is a gastrointestinal disorder affecting a considerable percentage of the population. Based on severity, it can have a significant negative impact in health and quality of life. In this article we explore how to fix constipation. What is constipation? Constipation is a gastrointestinal condition characterised by infrequent bowel movements (1, 2), hard or lumpy stools (1), difficulty passing stools (1, 2) and the sensation of incomplete evacuation (1). The prevalence of constipation has been reported to be 12-17% of the global population (1). The prevalence is higher in elderly people (1, 2), women (1, 2), particularly when pregnant (2). Factors associated with constipation * Medications that can cause constipation…
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Should you eat breakfast?
Should you eat breakfast? This continues to be a controversial topic when it comes to health and nutrition. Although every person’s biology is different, it seems that the majority of people would benefit from not skipping the first meal of the day. Breakfast: the most important meal of the day? Conspiracy theorists and skeptics tend to be of the opinion that breakfast was proclaimed “the most important meal of the day” as a marketing strategy to increase the food industry’s profits. However, there has been some scientific evidence to suggest that breakfast is indeed associated with weight loss and improved body composition (1). Benefits of eating breakfast Satiety and hunger…
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Product review: Nutriboost
Nutriboost is a high protein flavoured milk drink made with no added sugar. It is enriched with fibre and vitamin D and has a 5 health star rating. Nutriboost Nutriboost is made by infamous Coca-Cola Company. Before you stop reading, remember that they also make water, juice and other not-so-bad-for-you beverages. Nutriboost is enriched with milk proteins, polydextrose as a source of fibre, and vitamin D. It is sweetened with an artificial sweetener. The drink comes in 3 flavours: chocolate, vanilla and banana. It is available at Woolworths supermarkets, and often discounted when buying 5 or more. Ingredients Below are the ingredients lists for the current 3 flavours. Note they…
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Fibre in food
As seen previously, dietary fibre is generally good for health and can even be useful to athletes wanting to improve body composition. Fibre in food is present in different quantities so it’s good to know which foods have higher contents. Fibre in food As seen previously, fibre is present in many plant foods, including vegetables, legumes (e.g. lentils, beans, chickpeas), fruits, cereals, nuts and seeds. The exact amount of total fibre and the types of fibre contained in each food depend on the actual food. Most food databases and nutrition information panels contain the total amount of fibre rather than the amount per type (e.g. soluble, insoluble, resistant starch). In…
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Fibre in sports nutrition
In a previous post, I highlighted the relationship between fibre and health. In general, dietary fibre is good for you. However, the role of fibre in sports nutrition is a little more complex. Fibre in sports nutrition When talking about dietary fibre intake in the context of sports nutrition, we need to think beyond health. It is also important to consider weight and body composition, performance during training and competition, and recovery. As a reminder, the recommended daily intake of dietary fibre is 25 grams per day for most adult women and 30 grams per day for most adult men. Regulation of energy intake Dietary fibre intake increases satiety. Therefore,…
